GOVERNMENT COSTS.

Auckland Star, Issue 17, 21 January 1932, Page 10

GOVERNMENT COSTS.

REDUCTION DEMANDED. "AT LEAST 25 PER CENT." BUSINESS MEN'S SUGGESTIONS. Various suggestions for further economies in the Government departments have been made by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to Associated Chambers of Commerce, in view of the pending investigations or an economy commission. The Chamber considers that substantial savings could be made by staff and salary adjustments, by a more conservative policy with regard to the erection of new buildings, by curtailing much unnecessary travelling at the State expense, and by the reduced running of official motor cars, and by fewer transfers over long distances of subordinate civil servants. Numerous other directions in which savings could be made are indicated. "The general comment may be made that administration costs must be rcduced, and it would appear that at least a 25 per cent reduction is essential to ensure stability," states the chamber. Room for Economies. Following are some of the instances in which, the Auckland chamber considered there should be savings:— The services conducted by the Maui Pomare had been provided only at a steady loss. The Island dependencies seemed to be more expensive than necessary. A more conservative policy should be exercised with regard to new buildings in the Dominion. New post ofliccs "were built at Taumarunui and Palmerston South, and neither town was making the progress that would seem to warrant such expenditure. There was unnecessary travelling by Cabinet Ministers to attend local functions and openings; use of official cars by Government officials after hours. " Hansard " should be modified and less freely circulated. Many returns appearing in the " Gazette " could be eliminated. Small repairs to Government buildings could be done cheaper if handled locally and not by the P.W.D. In all probability substantial economies would accrue if Departments were allowed to obtain stationery and printing otherwise than from the Government Printing Office; the Public Works Department should be drastically revised. There should be economy in education by drastic revision of the free place system. Some of the more recent social services that have been grafted on to the Education and Health Departments appear to be of the order of luxuries.